Picture your kid pressed to the window of a sleek helicopter, headset on, narrating every landmark below like a pint-sized tour guide while the Arizona Desert rolls out in every direction. No screens. No backseat boredom. No “are we there yet.” Just pure, wide-eyed wonder. If you’ve been hunting for things to do in Scottsdale that your kids will still be talking about long after the trip ends — the kind of day that beats every theme park and souvenir shop — you just found it.
Tired of the Usual Things to Do in Scottsdale With Kids?
Scottsdale is full of family-friendly options, and most of them are wonderful. But somewhere between the third splash pad and the second ice cream stop, a lot of parents start looking for the one experience that turns an ordinary vacation into a core memory. A private flight with H5 Helicopters is exactly that — a real bucket-list adventure that also happens to be one of the most exciting things to do in Scottsdale for families who want something beyond the everyday. It’s the rare activity that thrills a ten-year-old and a grandparent in the very same five minutes. Most kids have never seen their world from above, and the first time the ground drops away, their faces say everything. And because every H5 flight is completely private, it’s just your crew on board — no crowds, no strangers, no waiting in line behind a tour bus.
The Adventure Starts on the Ground
Here’s what surprises most families: the fun begins the moment you arrive at our private hangar at Scottsdale Airpark. We ask guests to come about 20 minutes early, and for kids, that pre-flight time is half the magic. They get an up-close hangar tour of SaberCat1 — our Airbus AS350-B2 A-Star — meet the pilots face to face, and take part in a real safety briefing that makes them feel like part of the crew. Then everyone is fitted with an aviation headset, which means kids can chat with each other and pepper the pilot with a hundred questions over the intercom mid-flight. It’s interactive in a way a backseat tablet never will be.
What Kids See From the Sky (They Won’t Stop Talking About It)
Once you lift off, Scottsdale and the surrounding desert transform into something straight out of a movie — fitting, since the same cinematic flying style we’re known for has been trusted by Apple TV, National Geographic, Red Bull, and IMAX productions. Kids press their faces to the glass and start spotting everything: the rugged ridge of Camelback Mountain, the granite boulders of Pinnacle Peak, the McDowell Mountains glowing gold in the sun, emerald golf courses carved into the desert floor, and sometimes even their own hotel. Pilots Mitch and Steve — who bring more than 55 years of combined flight time and a spotless safety record — know exactly where to point and how to make the whole family feel like they’re seeing Arizona for the very first time. By the time you bank over the open desert, even the most distracted kid has forgotten their phone exists.
Land Where No Road Can Take You
Want to really blow their minds? Our Mountain Top Landing is one of the most popular things to do in Scottsdale for families chasing something unforgettable. We touch down on a remote desert peak with no road, no trail, and no way to reach it except by air. There’s a hush in the cabin right before the skids settle onto the rock — and then the doors open to nothing but sky, silence, and desert in every direction. Everyone steps out onto the summit for photos, fresh air, and the kind of view most people only ever see on a postcard. Most families snap more photos in those ten minutes on the summit than the rest of the day combined. For a kid, standing somewhere only a helicopter could reach is the moment the whole trip becomes a story they’ll retell for years. Prefer a shorter first flight? The 35 Minute Adventure is a perfect introduction, while the 1 Hour Adventure gives your family more time to explore from above.
Cool, Comfortable, and Made for the Whole Family
We built the H5 experience with comfort in mind — which matters a lot when you’re flying with little ones. SaberCat1’s cabin is fully air-conditioned, so even on a hot Arizona afternoon, everyone stays cool and content from takeoff to touchdown. There’s no minimum age to fly, so the entire family can come along, from grandparents down to your youngest adventurer. Safety is never an afterthought here — it’s the foundation of everything we do, which is exactly why first-time-flying parents tend to exhale the moment they meet our team. Bring the camera — the look on their faces when the doors open is the photo you’ll keep forever. Because we fly private, the itinerary is yours to shape: tell us what your kids love and we’ll build the flight around it. To round out the day, pair your flight with a morning at OdySea Aquarium, a train and carousel ride at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, or the hands-on exhibits at the Musical Instrument Museum — then save the helicopter for last, because nothing else quite tops it.
Family Helicopter Tours in Scottsdale: Quick Answers
Is there a minimum age for kids to fly? No — children of all ages are welcome on H5 flights, making it one of the few truly all-ages adventures in the Valley.
Is the helicopter air-conditioned? Yes. SaberCat1 has a fully air-conditioned cabin, so your family stays comfortable year-round, even in the summer heat.
Are the flights private? Always. Every H5 flight is exclusively for your group — no shared seats with strangers and no crowds.
How long are the flights? That’s up to you. Options range from the 35 Minute Adventure to the 1 Hour Adventure, plus fully Custom Charter flights tailored to your family.
Can we customize the flight? Absolutely — just tell us your family’s must-sees and we’ll tailor the route to fit them.
Where do we meet? At our private hangar at Scottsdale Airpark (heliport 81AZ), where your adventure starts with a hangar tour and safety briefing.
If you’re searching for things to do in Scottsdale that your kids will remember long after the souvenirs are forgotten, a private flight with H5 Helicopters is ready when you are. Call us at (480) 272-1100, email info@h5helicopters.com, or visit h5helicopters.com to plan your family’s adventure. Tell us how old your kids are and what they’d love to see, and we’ll craft the perfect flight — from a quick first taste of the sky to a full Mountain Top Landing they’ll never stop talking about.